Vintage Lingerie Pin Ups an Advertising Trend

I love the charm of the old fashioned styles of the 40’s and 50’s. The vintage pin up girls are illustrated so beautifully. There is such an innocence to them.

Lately I am seeing them everywhere. There seems to be a trend towards using these retro style images to sell many products. I guess these go naturally with alcohol but I have seen some surprising items as well. I must admit I bought these wagon wheels just because of the cover. Wagon wheels were always a huge treat as a child and I loved them. Did they always taste like that?

Barbera, Italian wine, has an attractive pin up gal with a distinctly Sofia Lauren style. The garters and stockings showing under the flirty dress says it all. Not a great deal of skin showing but such a provocative look. Love the matching shoes!

I was creating an Italian meal and had to have the wine with dinner. I had never bought it before but it just completed the table decor.

Red Rider Beer is sporting a fast paced red head on a gorgeous red beach cruiser. Again we see the garter accidentally showing. Red always catches the eye.

You would think this advertising is intended to sell product to men but it is working on me. I have such a soft spot for this era in lingerie, fashion, design and artwork.

Our world has become so high tech that a little glimpse into the simpler life is a treat.  I find myself buying for the images. I guess the advertising is working…

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French Women and their Lingerie by French Essence

I am an avid reader of French Essence. I want to share this latest article with you. It is about French Lingerie!!!

First let me introduce you to Vicki Archer, creator of this lovely blog.

 She is an Australian writer who lives in both London and the South of France. Vicki and her family took on the challenge of buying and moving to an abandoned olive farm.

I adore her blog and enjoy her portrayal of life in France.

She has written 2 books.  My French Life and French Essence

Check out her list of French Films and sign up to follow her adventures in France.


I agree completely with her outlook on lingerie and her view of most women's relationship with lingerie. An interesting perspective. I hope you enjoy this.

french women and their lingerie... 

by Vicki Archer

I read somewhere yesterday that French women are the biggest buyers of lingerie.... What does that mean? Other than that women in general love their pretties, it simply means that some women like lingerie more than others. There are all sorts of assumptions made from this data about nationality and sexiness...a difficult one to determine and not one that I am going to run with, however....

What I do know is that for French women lingerie is a staple in their wardrobe. Pretty underwear is not something that is at the bottom of the shopping list or neglected like a long overdue manicure. Lingerie is as important as the well cut dress that covers it. Lingerie is part of the ensemble; like the handbag and heels, it all has to work. One of the reasons I know that French girls are big spenders on lingerie is that in every village, town and major city there are more lingerie boutiques than any other. In our small village there are several boutiques selling top brands of lingerie. These boutiques are the ones that seem to endure despite seasonal trade and downturns in the economy.

Lingerie is a win/win purchase and maybe French girls have that figured out. Emotionally, if we feel good on the inside then we feel better on the outside. This is something we all strive for and this same logic should apply to how we dress. Knowing that what is underneath is just as fabulous (if not more) as what is on show gives a spike to the morale and a boost to the confidence....and we all know that confidence is the key to looking fabulous and appealing to others. Dressing is so often not about ourselves; women dress to please the loves in their lives or more often than not their girlfriends. Lingerie does not have to be exclusively for others, it doesn't have to be about our partners, lingerie can be selfish. Wearing gorgeous underwear should not only be for seduction, lingerie should be a weapon of self esteem.

Buying underwear is a bit like buying jeans we need to be in the best mood, we need to have time and we need to be forgiving of our flaws. French girls are not perfect, they have lumps and bumps like the rest of us, but perhaps they are kinder to themselves. Our bodies will never be as we want them, that is a curse (rightly or wrongly) that women live with, but wearing pretty lingerie is not reserved for the perfect body; pretty lingerie can be worn by all. In France I have noticed that the most exquisite pieces of lingerie come in all sizes and unlike fashion, underwear does not enforce unspoken rules about who can and who can't. There is a sense of liberation in knowing that you can buy exactly what you like in the size you need; French girls know this, we should too. xv








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Liz makes a slip the STAR...

Hollywood has lost one of it’s most shinning stars. I watched the life in review as the world said goodbye to Elizabeth Taylor.

I have always been a Liz Taylor fan and always will be. 

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is one of my all time favorite films. I am a fan of Tennessee Williams plays so when you add Liz Taylor and a stellar cast of actors you have a master piece.

I love how Liz turned an old fashioned full slip into a star!


Liz plays a strong woman, named Maggie the cat, who tries to win back the affections of her aloof  husband.
Set in the steamy climate of the deep south Maggie spends the majority of the movie wearing only a full slip.

 

But this is no ordinary slip.

Liz Taylor looked glamorous while exquisitely undressed in that famous full slip.
This slip not only became the star of the show but also the image or icon of the show itself. It is incredible when a costume portrays the character so completely. It has become just as famous as the actress.

 The costume designer, Helen Rose, created the ultimate slip for Elizabeth during production in 1958. This was a full slip made of pure silk, completely lined in silk to guarantee nothing would show through. The slip was perfectly fitted and skin tight. If you watch the film carefully you can see the invisible hidden zipper on the side seam.  You may also notice she does not wear a bra.

Silk moulds and moves with a body like no other fabric can. This slip  looks like a regular slip but it was created with the magic of movie costuming skill. Yes it is a slip but it has that extra star power.

No one else wears a slip that looks quite as commanding.
   
In 1960 Liz does it again! Another outstanding slip for the star of Butterfield 8. Once again Helen Rose created the slip but this time with a splash of contrasting lace in a warm coffee color showing 2 layers at the hem.

The sensual silk, the body hugging fit and fully lined to show Liz at her best.
       
Check out this clip to really see the dramatic slip in action (3 1/2 mins). This slip is powerful and sexy yet so little skin is shown by todays standards.

The slip has moved away from popularity. This is a shame because there is something magical about wearing a slip. Your clothing slides and moves easily on top of it. If your clothing shifts and the slip shows, what a wonderful surprise for the onlooker who happens to notice!

If you want to feel like a 1950’s movie start….pull on a slip one morning and walk tall. See  how glamorous you will feel.

There will never be another Liz Taylor. In her honor I vote to bring the slip back into vogue! How about you?

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Christmas Stockings

“The stockings were hung by the  chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicolas soon would be there.”

A quote from my favorite Christmas story/poem “ The Night Before Christmas”. The story that has been read to me or I have read every year of my life. In truth I know it by heart but I love the old images in the book far too much to miss.

We all love this story and most of us partake in this quaint Christmas tradition of hanging stockings Christmas Eve. In my house on Christmas morning the Christmas stockings are always a wonderful treat.
Have you ever wondered how it all began?

The stockings or hose pictured in this fantastic ancient painting show you the style of the stockings of the day. We will never know for sure but here is the legend behind the Christmas stockings.

It is thought that around 300AD a kindly young bishop began the quest of leaving secret gifts for needy people and disappearing without thanks. His fame grew until he was named Saint Nicolas.

It was common in days of old to leave stocking to dry overnight pinned to the hearth.

A nobleman mourning the loss of his wife was said to have thrown away his fortune leaving his 3 daughters without a dowry and thus unable to marry. When the generous Saint Nicolas heard of the girls’ predicament, he rode his white horse past their house, in the dead of night on Christmas Eve and tossed little pouches of gold coins into the chimney. By chance they fell into the stockings hung to dry and were found Christmas morning.

Thus began the Christmas Stocking tradition. The legend of Saint Nicolas made it’s way to Holland where he became Sinterklaas  leaving treats in wooden shoes. Eventually the legend hit North America where he became Santa Claus filling stockings with presents.

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Looking back for Remembrance Day

HERE IS A POST FROM REMEMBRANCE DAY ONE YEAR AGO.

I LOVE THE WAR TIME POSTERS AND IDEAS.

 Click the link below to read this article.
                  War time Bras - Make do and mend.





I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY THIS RE-POSTING....









Click  to read

Wartime Bras – Make do and Mend

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A Short History of Corset Making

Exploring the Corset – Day 5

Corset making in centuries past, was serious business. Corset or stay making was considered heavy work and therefore not appropriate for women. All corsets were made by men/tailors. Tailoring was also a heavy job, the “pressing” was considered too difficult a task for a woman.
France imposed many restrictions on fashion and trade.  A couturier, a female dressmaker, was not allowed to make a corset. Eventually, around the end of the 18th century, the restrictions were lighten and women were given the rights to produce corsets.

The construction of a corset is fascinating. Originally they were made from many layers of fabric. Most often linen, cotton and silk. The base fabric needed to be a very dense weave so that there was no stretch or give in the fabric.

The fabric was covered in a paste that stiffened it further. The corset was then hand stitched in small channels over the entire body. Whalebone was then slipped into all the channels.  You can see the stiffened rows on the pink corset shown here.

The whalebone was actually Baleen. It is not a bone but cartilage like strings from the roof of the whale’s mouth. One of the heaviest jobs was cutting the Baleen to fit and forcing it into the channels.

The edges of the corset were encased in silk ribbon and the eyelets for the laces were hand stitched in silk thread. Metal grommets for eyelets were not invented for years to come.

To make a corset was labor intensive and a work of art when completed.

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Win a corset – enter here

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Romantic Silk Corset

Exploring the corset – Day 4

I adore this antique silk corset from the 18th century. It is part of the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Collection. It is not on display at this time.

Items such as this are a treasure. There is not a huge collection of ancient clothing to study. The properties of textiles naturally breakdown and fall apart. Most old garments were subject to moisture and sunlight. Both killers of fabric. Most often now these items are safely stored to preserve them and only shown for special exhibits.

This is a beautiful example of the corset style of the 1700’s.  It is thought to have been Spanish in origin.  When corsets were first being worn they were elaborately covered in decorative fabrics. These corsets became a feature piece of a woman’s costume. It was not until later in history when the corset became an undergarment.

The corset was never worn on bare skin as they are today. The corset was always worn over a soft cotton or linen garment called the chemise. This, soft shirt like garment, would show slightly above the corset at the neck and extend to the knees. The more elaborate the details, the more wealthy the woman. The purpose of this garment was to protect the corset from the body. It was easy to wash a chemise but not a corset.

This corset style waist is long in the front and short in the back. When it was worn the small tabs at the waist would spread open to accommodate the full skirt. The purpose of this corset was to keep the front bodice flat. The corsets were fitted with a stomacher, a solid plate of wood, metal or ivory that would slide in the front panel to keep it rigid.

The stomacher would often be carved and decorated beautifully even though it would never show. The pieces of the corset that fasten with the silver hooks would have been reinforced with bars called Busks.
The corset was originally called a stay. If you unlaced the back and open the hooks the corset was in 2 pieces. For this reason the corset was often called “a pair of stays”.
All women wore corsets. Not all were as lovely as this beautiful piece.

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Psycho turns 50 - Lingerie in film

This month the famous horror film, Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock turned 50. It is hard to believe that Psycho hit the silver screen so long ago. Whether you saw it in a cinema or on TV most people remember how frightening it was. I stumbled upon a clip the other day and found it just as frightening today.

It is a film that was a ground breaker in so many ways including it’s use of lingerie as costumes. The second memory I have of this film, after the shower scene, of course, is the bold use of a bra and slip for the leading lady. Hitchcock deliberately chose to dress his leading lady, Janet Leigh, in a white bra and white half slip during the opening scenes of the film. He is reported to have said he wanted her to appear “angelic”. She is being portrayed as a good women stepping into a bad situation. The fact that she is having a daytime affair, on her lunch break, is shocking in itself for 1960.

Once she has taken the steps to stealing the money so easily placed before her, Hitchcock changes her lingerie costume to a black bra and black half slip symbolizing evil. She has made the shift from good girl to bad girl. Only wild women wore black bras. If you watch carefully you will also notice that she uses a white purse in the beginning and switches to a black one as she runs away with the stolen money.

It is difficult to look back at the old fashioned bras and imagine them as sexy. Today they look like your everyday, working bra whether in black or white with slightly different style lines.

Some of the other unconventional methods used by Hitchcock include:

• the use of black and white film stock although color technology was already fully in use.
• the first American film to show a toilet flush. It was against the ratings rules so Hitchcock had the leading lady put a note in the toilet and flush it. As it was an important part of the plot it was allowed.
• the first film to kill off the leading lady in the first act.
• the first film to use a human as the “monster” (Norman Bates)
• Hitchcock insisted that Janet’s wardrobe be purchased, not custom made for her as was and is the norm in film. He wanted clothing that a real secretary could have afforded. He wanted it to look real.
• the famous shower scene took 7 days to shoot and 70 camera set ups then extensive editing.
• the screeching violin music to frighten the audience

Even after 50 years this is still an American film masterpiece. Well worth another watch.

Do you think there are still such stereotype restrictions on today’s woman?

 

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Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Panties, Plus Size Shapewear, and More

Rigby and Peller vintage style bullet bra

I wanted to spotlight this new retro design because I think it is just adorable.

Rigby and Peller are a London, England based foundation garment company celebrating 70 years in business. They have commissioned a special, limited edition set to commemorate their longevity.

I would not wear it, I would not pay 300 dollars for it but I LOVE it. I think this was so beautifully done that it deserves admiring.

They have taken a very strange yet popular bra style from the 50’s and revamped it in a seductive soft pink satin. The conical bra originally looked bullet proof in a heavy white nylon yet their version has a romantic and innocent appeal. Attention to historic form is shown in the stitching detail of the cups and placement of the seams.

The panties worn with the bra have a high waist and are covered in ruffles over the butt. This gives a childlike element that works wonderfully. The mood is perfectly cast in the photograph with the dusty light and tactile backdrop. It almost looks fluid.

At first glance I was taken by this photograph. As I have looked at it further I continue to be impressed by the sophistication of the presentation. All design elements come together in color, balance and style. This makes my mind wander through costume history. I picture a slower time with soft gentle light and structurally tailored clothes. This reminds me that I love beautiful lingerie and all it's vintage charm.

This is a visual treat for you. I know very few would wear this however many may appreciate the presentation and the satisfaction of viewing a fashion statement . This is a show piece lingerie set made for petite girls. The size range is 30C-34DD.

For all you fashionistas….enjoy!

It is available to order at Rigby and Peller

Would you wear this style of vintage bra?



Brenda
Owner/Designer & Fashion Consultant
www.PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
Brenda@PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
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Wear your underwear backwards for good luck!

We all know many Friday the 13th superstitions but there are many more obscure ones. Did you know that an old superstition says if you are experiencing a run of bad luck, wear you underwear backwards until your luck changes? This is advice I have never been given, but may have to try it.

Friday the 13th is a double, unlucky day in the minds of many. The number 13 is an unlucky number and Friday was a bad day in times of old. British executions were typically held on Fridays with 13 steps leading to the gallows with 13 loops on the noose and a coven of witches numbered 12 plus the devil making 13. These are only two examples of the many facts from history that put a strong fear in the minds of the people.

Most people know to watch out for black cats, don’t walk under ladders, don’t break a mirror and if you grew up in my house, don’t open a can of food upside down. If you do, throw it out immediately or it will sink the boat.

Here are a few superstitions involving underwear that you may not have heard of but may come in handy. In order to attract a man simply place Valarian leaves in your bra and panties. Then if a woman wants to marry she should borrow some underwear from a newly married woman and she will be married within a year.

My grandmother always told me to put my school books under my pillow and when I woke I would have absorbed all the book's knowledge. If you put your petticoat under your pillow you will dream of the man you are going to marry.

Enjoy these recommendation for the modern woman. Don’t open your umbrella in the house and have a lucky Friday the 13th……..

What was your best family superstition? Send me a comment for good luck.

Brenda
Owner/Designer &; Fashion Consultant
www.PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
Brenda@PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
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Wartime Bras - Make do and mend.

It was just Remembrance Day. The day to remember and honor all who sacrificed so much during those hard years.

This has made me contemplate life at that time. The lifestyle, the music, the fashions and the lingerie situation during the war years. Every aspect of human existence was impacted by war, including lingerie.

The major influence on all clothing, during the war, was the rationing of most products including fabrics. There was a small variety of fabrics available, to begin with, and most of them were being used in the war efforts. The most obvious being wools and cottons used for uniforms. The most popular fabric used for lingerie at the time was silk and it was being used in massive quantities for parachutes. It was rationed and saved for military use. Nylon was later perfected for use as a replacement for silk in parachutes. Some nylon and rayon were also used in lingerie manufacturing.

Bras of the day were called “utility bras” and were functional, durable and simple. They were often made in cotton mostly of a soft pink shade. If you happened to be in the military, a utility bra was part of your military issue uniform.

Women turned to making their own lingerie out of necessity. Bras were often not available to buy except by special order and who had money for that anyway. Foundation garment manufacturers started to manufacture tents and parachutes in order to stay in business, so could only make their lingerie by special order.

The catch phrase in England was “make do and mend”. Women were inspired to make their own garments from old clothing, wedding gowns, and hand me downs. If a parachute was discarded or found it was a prize to be used for many things including bras and panties.

This was such a terrible time in history yet I can’t help being charmed by the fashions of the era including the lingerie. The 1940’s continue to be one of my favorite fashion eras and always will.

Brenda
Owner/Designer & Fashion Consultant
www.PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
Brenda@PlusSizeBrasAndPanties.com
Plus Size Bras, Plus Size Panties, Plus Size Shapewear, & More